MalachiRichardson was held scoreless in the McDonald’s All-America game on Wednesday night at the United Center. But the Syracuse recruit may be close to securing his first-career assist for the Orange. Richardson spent a lot of time in Chicago the past few days talking to center ThomasBryant, hoping to convince the big man they should play their college ball together. “I’ve been talking to (Thomas) all week,” Richardson said after the game. “Trying to figure out if he’s going to definitely come. I think we have a good chance for him now.”

The Scarlet Knights are a contender for LiamSmith, following the tackle’s weekend visit to campus. “I like it a lot,” Smith, the No. 13 recruit in the NJ.com Top 50 told NJ Advance Media. “I think the last visit made them a contender for me when maybe they weren’t a couple months ago. I have a lot of interest in them now. I had a really great visit.” Smith, who visited Syracuse one day prior to his Rutgers trip, is closing in on a decision.

This past weekend Michigan State hosted an impressive group of recruits from a variety of states. One of the players on campus was BrendanScales of Lafayette High School in Missouri. The fast-rising 6-foot-4, 220-pound prospect got some good news before he left. Michigan State did not sign a tight end in the class of 2015 and only signed one in 2014. For a team that likes to use a lot of two tight end sets that means the position is a top priority for the class of 2016.

Missouri basketball team’s highest-profile recruiting target, Huntington Prep senior forward ThomasBryant, said Tuesday he is deciding among Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky and Syracuse. The 6-foot-10, 230-pound Bryant spoke to the Tribune’s Caitlin Swieca on Tuesday morning in Chicago, where he’ll compete in the McDonald’s All American Game at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the United Center. “All four schools are pretty even right now,” Bryant said.

There’s an epidemic of non-Hoyas college apparel on the Georgetown campus and it must be stopped. “I walk around campus and I’m shocked with the stuff that [students] wear,” Georgetown director of marketing Chris Grosse said. “A girl in Marquette sweatpants, or a guy in a Villanova or Harvard shirt. At the gym, it’s insane.” T-shirts of hated rivals Villanova and Syracuse will be worth three points.

About Wes Cheng

Wes has worked for Rivals.com covering the New York Knicks, as well as for Scout.com covering Syracuse athletics. Wes has also worked for the South China Morning Post (Hong Kong) and reported on the NBA and MLB for the New York Sportscene. A native of Long Island, New York, Wes graduated from Syracuse University in 2005. Follow him on Twitter @ChengWes.